“Yeah, well, there’s not much I can do. I tried to talk her out of it, but as a friend. She’s an ex contract slave and member of my club for four years. I can’t be unbiased with her.”
“She was a contract slave?”
“Yes, I believe she had three separate contracts. The last one was about two or so years ago. She was bought all three times at auction for six-month contracts. She was asked all three times for additional contracts but she declined. She wants love and forever. ”
“I don’t remember seeing her. How could I have missed that?”
“You don’t gravitate in the same circles. Besides it was during the time of Kyle’s wife’s downward spiral and subsequent death.”
Caleb remembered that time. He’d devoted himself to helping Kyle get his life back together and going to the club was the last thing he felt like doing. He’d seen Petra around the club many times over the years, and she was beautiful, but she looked too delicate and fragile for his usual preference.
“Given your history with her, is she serious?”
“Absolutely! I’m man enough to admit it scares the shit out of me. I’m worried she’ll be hurt. However…”
Caleb swore he could hear the gears shifting and clicking inside Craig’s brain through the phone.
“If you were to buy her, I wouldn’t be concerned about her safety.”
“It’s an auction Craig. It can’t be rigged.”
“No, but if I go halves with you in the purchase price, we can guarantee that you’ll be the highest bidder.”
“Why go to so much effort?” He wondered if Craig had a thing for this girl. If he did, why wasn’t he bidding on her himself? More importantly, why did he care if Craig wanted her? If he’d been in any way interested in Petra, wouldn’t he have chosen to play with her before now? It wasn’t like he didn’t know she existed. Maybe he’d never really seen the true sub she was, though.
“Petra holds a place in my heart, and I don’t want to see her destroyed. She’s like a little sister to me.”
Ah! So Petra had gotten into his heart, just not in a romantic sense. Hold on, she’d been a slave to him for six months, how could he see her as a little sister? Actually he didn’t really want to look into that too much. It might affect his relationship with Craig.
“Let me think about it, okay?”
“Don’t think too long, my friend. After Master Greg’s interest today and him telling me he would be buying her, I had to take matters in hand. I’m about to offer her to somebody else as well as you today. I want her bought by someone I trust.”
“Who’s the other one?” Strangely he felt jealous, as though Craig should trust no one but him with the purchase of Petra.
“That I will not tell you.”
“Fine, I’ll get back to you by two o’clock today.”
“Excellent.”
Clicking the end button on his cell phone, he was lost in thought. Not about Petra or the offer, but of who the other sadist was. Who would get to deliver the ultimate sadist’s wet dream? He should ring Craig back and tell him he’d do it. But something held him back. Something told him he shouldn’t rush into this decision. The beast within him screamed that he was an idiot and he should claim his prize. Forcing himself to drop his phone back in his coat pocket, he walked out of his office and began rounds. He was late now, and his interns would be chomping at the bit to get started.
* * * *
Kyle blinked at the display on his cell phone. The caller ID clearly displayed the Locks and Chains club. Why on earth would he be getting a call from the club?
“Hello?”
“Kyle, long time no hear.”
“Craig, how the hell are you, man?”
How many years had it been since he’d played at the club? Hell, were all the guys still there for that matter? From what Caleb had said, some were now married. Time really did fly.
“Good, good. Look, I know you’re a busy man, so I’ll make this quick. I’m in a bit of a bind, and I’m hoping you might be able to help me out.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Well, you see we’re having a charity fantasy auction at the club in a couple of days. All monies raised go toward a new safe house for the women’s shelter. Submissives are auctioning their greatest fantasy to be played out on that night.”
“Okay, how do you need my help?”
“Well, a good friend of mine has placed a fantasy, and I have a few Doms interested in her that wouldn’t be a good mesh.”
‘Not mesh’ he knew used to be Craig-code for a terrifying clash of titans. “Where do I come in?”
“I want you to bid on her for me and deliver the fantasy.”
“Why not do it yourself?”
“My sadist nature doesn’t stretch that far.”
“Why? What the hell is the fantasy? You know I haven’t been in the scene for a while, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. But you know how to ride a bike, so the saying goes.”
Craig then continued to tell him all about the offering. Kyle understood why Craig was worried. Hell, he didn’t even know the girl, and he was worried.
“So who are you worried will get her?”
“Master Greg.”
“You still haven’t got rid of that prick?”
“Now, not everyone is as lovely as you. I’ve already made an offer to another Dom this morning who I know would be perfect. So I’ll only need you if he drops out. He has till two o’clock today to give me his decision.”
“Craig, as much as I’d love to help you out, I’m worried I’m a little too rusty for this. You know, you should ask Caleb.”
“He’s the other Dom I just mentioned.”
Great minds think alike. Caleb would be perfect for this. He’d get such a kick out of it, and his best friend certainly needed a kick right now. Hell, Kyle would get a kick out of just watching it. Maybe he could become a voyeur. That way he wasn’t actually playing. He could still enjoy watching.
“Well, leave it to me. I’ll make sure he’s the one who wins. Even if I have to hold his hand while he does it.” Okay that sounded a tad gay. Not that he had a problem with that. Still.
“Perfect. I’ll have your new membership card waiting at the door. I know everyone’s going to love seeing you back at the club again.”
“Okay, I look forward to it.”
For the first time he really felt like that was true. Looking up, he saw Caleb standing at the nurses’ station. As though the universe had aligned the perfect timing, Celeb walked toward him.
“Caleb.”
“Kyle, how are you today?”
“Good. I just got a call from Craig.” Did he just see a twitch at the corner of Caleb’s eye?
“Really, what did he have to say for himself?”
“He wants me to bid in an auction.”
“What? Let me guess, Submissive Petra.”
“Yeah, do you know her?”
“I know of her, but I don’t know her very well.”
Why the hell not? Why would Caleb, a sadist to the core like himself, not know of a masochist submissive member of the club?
“Is she ugly or does she have a third nipple or something?”
“No, she’s beautiful. She’s little though.”
Ah, so that’s the problem. Caleb liked his women big and strong.
“Well, I can deal with that.”
“You aren’t thinking of bidding, are you? I mean, you haven’t been in the lifestyle for years.”
“Yes, but I can’t not help a friend.”
“You know you’re not the first one he’s asked.”
“Yeah, he said I was second in line. If some other Dom doesn’t agree by two o’clock then I’m it.” God, it was fun to bait someone. He’d forgotten how to have fun.
“Well, I hope you’re not disappointed if the other Dom accepts.”
“I’ll try not to be.”
Caught the fish, hook, line, and sinker. As he walked away from the nurses’ station, Kyle watched with glee as Caleb pulled out his cell phone to make a call. He would bet one hundred dollars that the call was to Locks and Chains to accept Craig’s offer. Now he couldn’t wait for the auction. It was going to be a great night.
Chapter Five
Petra wanted to throw up. The nerves in her stomach felt like a herd of buffalo running wild. Her mouth was dry, and her throat felt scratchy. Her skin felt as though it wanted to crawl right off her body. She again thought of a visit to the ladies’ room. Her bladder was reporting a need that she could not fulfill. It must be her nerves. She was finally going to do this tonight. She would show all her friends and herself that she could do it. No one would ever think of her as a delicate little doll again. The bidding for the latest submissive gave her hope that somebody would also bid on her. The worst that could happen was nobody would bid, and she would be left up on stage in front of everyone feeling utterly humiliated. Really, that wasn’t so bad. Fuck! Maybe she shouldn’t be doing this. Maybe she should…Fuck, what the hell. She was no greenhorn. She’d been in the lifestyle for a long time. Calm down and focus. Breathe deep and wait. Low and slow. Low and slow.
“You’re up, chickadee.”
“Thanks.” She kissed Master Dylan, the husband of her friend Peter and of her new friend Mia, on the cheek as she walked toward the stage. She’d spent many happy hours playing in the club over the years with Master Dylan, and she had a real soft spot for him.
“The next up for auction is number fourteen. This fantasy is titled ‘To Be Punished.’
“This submissive’s fantasy is to be lashed twenty times. All delivered with a single-tailed whip on the Saint Andrew’s cross on the center stage of the club. Attire, positioning, et cetera are all Master or Mistress’s choice. She has requested the removal of her safe word until every lash has been completed.”
The audience was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Had she done the wrong thing? Was this fantasy too much for even the Doms? Maybe she should consider running? She could jump from the stage and run to—where? Where could she run that she would no longer have to worry about the shame of backing out? How long would she have to travel before the memories of failing would no longer haunt her? It wasn’t an option, and she knew it. If she ran from this challenge, from the gauntlet she’d set herself, she would never respect herself again. She would be lost in a haze of disgust and self-loathing.
Okay, Petra, a bit melodramatic don’t you think?
Swallowing the new wave of bile that rose in her throat, she stood stock-still and held her head high with dignity and confidence. If you don’t have it, fake it.
* * * *
Caleb sat in his seat, watching the offerings of fantasies, one after the other. As he’d already thought, they were nothing but the usual spanking and bondage dreams. He held all respect for the participants for going after what they wanted and being honest and proud of their desires. But he was here on a mission. He was here to save a silly little sub from a disaster. Also, as a doctor he had a code of ethics to uphold. He could not willingly allow harm to come to another human being. Granted, it conflicted with his sadistic nature and his desire and need to hurt. He justified it to himself that he was in fact delivering a service by satisfying the needs of another human being in a safe and pleasurable manner. He knew how to cause pain and also pleasure-pain without causing harm.
Petra walked up onto the stage, and he realized he’d never noticed how truly exotic she was. She stood there, proud and aggressive, her head held high, daring everyone to take her on. The Dom who would take her on board would have to train her to submit to him. She, unlike so many others, would be a joy to get to her knees. This was no shrinking violet. This wouldn’t be a sub who’d be begging to kneel. No, she’d need to be forced. She’d have to be shown power before she’d agree to submit. She could never be made to gift her submission. She would on the surface do all the right things, say the right things, but her heart would be held in an iron case, guarded against any intruders. He shook his head. Why the hell was he thinking about her like this? Hell, how did he know all this stuff about her? For all he knew she was as soft as putty. He never cared about anyone’s heart. He was a lone wolf, a lone hunter. Love and forever were not an option. Again he wondered why he hadn’t considered her before now. Maybe this was a sign? This was what he’d been waiting for, this time and this place. Maybe God or whoever was the grand designer of the universe had predestined this moment.
Okay, Caleb, get a grip, man.
He truly must be going through a midlife crisis. Next it was going to be the red sports car and the twenty-year-old on his arm. He really didn’t need this shit. He didn’t have time to have a meltdown. Maybe he could go on antidepressants and medicate himself through it? Maybe he should go on that vacation? So lost in thought, he’d lost sight of the fact that bidding had started. If it hadn’t been for Kyle sitting beside him raising his hand to make a bid, he may never have noticed.
“Ten thousand dollars.” Okay, this was going much faster than he’d planned or imagined. He had already budgeted $10,000 of his own money and then the $10,000 from Craig. That gave him an upper limit of $20,000. What the hell would happen if that wasn’t enough? Now he really wanted to drape her over his knee and spank her for even allowing him to feel the thread of fear that he might not win.